Reversal of Harvey Weinstein rape conviction slammed
Harvey Weinstein’s accusers and opponents of sexual violence in Hollywood and beyond have spoken out against the reversal of the disgraced movie mogul’s rape conviction in New York.
Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino and others who have accused the former Hollywood producer of sexual misconduct condemned a New York court of appeal decision to overturn the verdict.
Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence since he was convicted in 2020 of rape and a felony sex crime after allegedly assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haley and aspiring actress Jessica Mann.
“This today is an act of institutional betrayal. And our institutions betray survivors of male sexual violence,” Judd said at a press conference in New York.
“I stand shoulder to shoulder with women who have bloody knees because male sexual violence may knock us down, but we get right back up.”
Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, remarked during the news conference that “moments like this underscore why movements are necessary and … why we keep going”.
“We are devastated for the survivors who are connected to this case and the survivors who have found some solace and catharsis in the original verdict,” Burke said. “This is not a blow to the movement. It is a clarion call, and we are prepared to answer that call.”
The New York appeal court found, in a 4-3 decision, that the judge who presided over Weinstein’s trial prejudiced the case by allowing four women who said Weinstein had assaulted them to serve as witnesses, even though their allegations were not part of the case.
The trial judge also made a mistake, the court determined, in permitting prosecutors to question Weinstein about uncharged and decades-old allegations if he decided to testify.
Weinstein was also convicted of rape in California, and the New York ruling will have no practical effect on his imprisonment.
Weinstein’s legal team lauded the ruling at a press conference in Manhattan.
“From the bottom of our hearts, from our collective hundreds of years of experience, we knew that Harvey Weinstein did not get a fair trial,” said Arthur Aidala, lead lawyer for Weinstein. “There are some people who are unpopular in society, but we still have to apply the law fairly.”
Sorvino wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she was “horrified” by the news, which came during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“Since when don’t courts allow evidence of pattern of prior bad acts to be admitted?” she said.
“He’s a prolific serial predator who raped/harmed 200+ women! Disgusted w/justice system [skewed towards] predators not victims.”
Weinstein has denied all allegations of sexual assault.
The Silence Breakers – a coalition of 23 women who have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct that includes actors Judd, Rose McGowan and Rosanna Arquette – issued a statement calling the reversal “disheartening” and “profoundly unjust”.
“This ruling does not diminish the validity of our experiences or our truth; it’s merely a setback,” the Silence Breakers said.
“The man found guilty continues to serve time in a California prison. When survivors everywhere broke their silence in 2017, the world changed. We continue to stand strong and advocate for that change.”
In a statement, a spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office said: “We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.”